2012 Elections Guide: national, state and local candidates, ballot issues and levies

ELECTION DAY: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. You may cast your ballot in your precinct at your designated polling place between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 6. If you don’t know the location of your precinct polling place, contact the board of elections in your county.

Bring your I.D. – Voters must bring identification to the polls to verify identity. The following are acceptable: a current and valid photo I.D.; military identification; or a copy of a current (within the last 12 months) utility bill (including cell phone bill), bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document, other than a voter registration acknowledgment mailed by the board of elections, that shows the voter’s name and current address.

Provisional ballots – Voters who do not provide one of the aforementioned documents will still be able to vote using a provisional ballot, which “is used to record a vote if a voter’s eligibility is in question and the voter would otherwise not be permitted to vote at his or her polling place,” according to the Ohio Secretary of State’s website. To cast a provisional ballot, the voter must sign an affirmation statement swearing to his or her identity under penalty of election falsification. A provisional ballot is cast “provisionally” until the board of elections can confirm the voter’s eligibility to cast the ballot and the validity of the ballot.

VOTING BY ABSENTEE BALLOT

Any qualified Ohio voter whose registration information is up to date may request and vote an absentee ballot without giving a reason. The following is required: your name; your legal signature; the address at which you are registered to vote; your date of birth; one of the following items showing proof of your identification: your Ohio driver’s license number, the last four digits of your Social Security number, or a copy of a current and valid photo identification, military identification, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows your name and current address; a statement identifying the election for which you are requesting an absentee voter’s ballot; a statement that you are a qualified elector; and the address to which you want the ballot to be mailed. Absentee application forms are also available on the Ohio Secretary of State’s website (http://www.sos.state.oh.us/upload/elections/forms/11-A.pdf).

DEADLINES: The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot to be mailed is noon on Saturday, Nov. 3. In order to be counted, all voted ballots must be received in the board of elections office by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6), or postmarked no later than the day before the election and received by the board of elections no later than 10 days after the election.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES: In the case of medical emergencies, the absentee ballot request deadline is 3 p.m. on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 6).

Sources: Mahoning County Board of Elections, Ohio Secretary of State’s Office, Trumbull County Board of Elections.

CANDIDATES, QUESTIONS AND ISSUES, AND LOCAL OPTIONS FOR THE NOV. 6 GENERAL ELECTION

The following are write-in candidates for President and Vice President:

Susan E. Daniels, president, and Jerry A. Veneskey, vice president.

Nelson Keyton, president, and Jay Jennelle, vice president.

Jill Reed, president, and Tom Cary, vice president.

Platt Robertson, president, and Scott Fall, vice president.

Randall A. Terry, president, and Cathy Lewis, vice president.

Mike Vargo, president, and Jeff Angeletti, vice president.

U.S. Senator:

Sherrod Brown; Democrat.

Joshua Mandel; Republican.

Scott A. Rupert; Nonparty.

Representative to Congress, 6th District:

Bill Johnson, 519 Fifth St., Marietta; Republican.

Charlie Wilson, 125 E. Lawn Ave., St. Clairsville; Democrat.

Representative to Congress, 13th District:

Marisha Agana, 9949 NE Kingsgrave Road, Warren; Republican.

Tim Ryan, 1504 Taft Ave., Niles; Democrat.

Representative to Congress, 14th District:

Dale Virgil Blanchard, 32756 Lisa Lane, Solon; Democrat.

David P. Joyce, 9653 Music St., Novelty; Republican.

David Macko, 28810 Cannon Road, Solon; Libertarian.

Elaine R. Mastromatteo, 6077 State Route 45, Bristolville; Green.

The following are write-in candidates for Representative to Congress, 14th District:

Erick Donald Robinson, 6635 Belvoir Court, Concord.

Steven T. Winfield, 1651 Mentor Ave., #112, Painesville.

Aaron J. Zurbrugg, 7970 Winterberry Drive, Hudson.

STATE:

Justice of the Supreme Court:

Terrence O’Donnell; Republican. Jan. 1, 2013, term.

Mike Skindell; Democrat. Jan. 1, 2013, term.

Robert R. Cupp; Republican. Jan 2, 2013, term.

William M. O’Neill; Democrat. Jan. 2, 2013, term.

Yvette McGee Brown; Democrat. Unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2014.

Sharon L. Kennedy; Republican. Unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2014.

CANDIDATES:

ISSUES:

State Issue 1

Question presented pursuant to Article XVI, Section 3 of the Constitution of the State of Ohio, which reads as follows: “At the general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-two, and in each twentieth year thereafter, the question: ‘Shall there be a convention to revise, alter, or amend the constitution[,]’ shall be submitted to the electors of the state; and in case a majority of the electors, voting for and against the calling of a convention, shall decide in favor of a convention, the general assembly, at its next session, shall provide, by law, for the election of delegates, and the assembling of such convention, as is provided in the preceding section; but no amendment of this constitution, agreed upon by any convention assembled in pursuance of this article, shall take effect, until the same shall have been submitted to the electors of the state, and adopted by a majority of those voting thereon.”

Shall there be a convention to revise, alter or amend the Ohio Constitution?

A majority “yes” vote is necessary for passage.

State Issue 2

Proposed Constitutional amendment to create a state-funded commission to draw legislative and congressional districts. If approved, the amendment would be effective 30 days after the election.

The proposed amendment would:

Remove the authority of elected representatives and grant new authority to appointed officials to establish congressional and state legislative district lines.

Create a state funded commission of appointed officials from a limited pool of applicants to replace the aforementioned.

Require new legislative and congressional districts be immediately established by the commission to replace the most recent districts adopted by elected representatives, which districts shall not be challenged except by court order until the next federal decennial census and apportionment.

Repeal current constitutional requirements for drawing legislative districts that avoid splits to counties, townships, municipalities and city wards where possible, and when not possible, limiting such divisions to only one division per governmental unit, and also repeals requirements to form as many whole legislative districts solely within a county as possible.

Mandate the General Assembly to appropriate all funds necessary to adequately fund the activities of the commission.

PURPOSE: Provide for the emergency requirements of the school district.

MILLS: 3.6 mills

TIME: 10 years

KINSMAN TOWNSHIP (Kinsman Township A-C)

TAX LEVY: Additional

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain fire protection.

MILLS: 1.5 mills

TIME: Cont. period of time

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP (Liberty Township A-T)

TAX LEVY: Additional

PURPOSE: Provide for the general construction, reconstruction, resurfacing and repair of streets, roads and bridges.

MILLS: 1.25 mills

TIME: 5 years

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP (Liberty Township A-T)

TAX LEVY: Renewal

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain fire protection.

MILLS: 1 mill

TIME: 5 years

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP (Liberty Township A-T)

TAX LEVY: Renewal

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain police protection.

MILLS: 1.5 mills

TIME: 5 years

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP (Liberty Township A-T)

TAX LEVY: Additional

PURPOSE: Provide 911 emergency call system services.

MILLS: 0.45 mill

TIME: 5 years

MATHEWS LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT (Fowler Township A, C; Vienna Township A-E; includes part of Girard City 1B and Cortland City A)

TAX LEVY: Additional

PURPOSE: Provide for the emergency requirements of the school district.

MILLS: 4.65 mills

TIME: 5 years

MESOPOTAMIA TOWNSHIP (Mesopotamia Township A)

TAX LEVY: Renewal

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain fire protection.

MILLS: 2 mills

TIME: 5 years

NEWTON TOWNSHIP (Newton Township A-E)

TAX LEVY: Replacement and increase

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain fire protection.

MILLS: 1 mill, being an increase of 0.5 mill

TIME: Cont. period of time

NEWTON FALLS VILLAGE (Newton Falls 1A-4A)

TAX LEVY: Additional

PURPOSE: Provide and maintain police protection.

MILLS: 3 mills

TIME: 5 years

TRUMBULL COUNTY, FAIRHAVEN PROGRAM

TAX LEVY: Renewal

PURPOSE: Operation of programs and services by county board of developmental disabilities and for the acquisition, construction, renovation, financing, maintenance and operation of mental retardation and developmental disabilities facilities.